On March 16, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General announced an independent review of the provincial government’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The review is intended to find ways for the provincial government to be better prepared for the next event, whether a pandemic or other emergency. Local governments are invited to participate in virtual engagement sessions on May 31 or June 2 (morning and afternoon sessions available).
The review will be conducted by former senior public servants Bob de Faye, Dan Perrin and Chris Trumpy. It will look at what went well, what could have been improved, and what changed during the course of the pandemic in the government’s response. To do that, the review will look at all aspects of the response, involving all parts of the government, and will examine the response from the beginning of 2020 to the present. A report will be completed in September 2022 and the government has committed to release the report to the public.
The Terms of Reference indicate that the review will focus on how decisions were made, communications and implementation and operations. The decisions of government and the Provincial Health Officer are not being assessed as the circumstances of the next event will be different. Rather, the review will examine how decisions were made, communicated and implemented.
In conducting the review, the team is engaging with stakeholders from many sectors, as well as Indigenous governments and groups, the public and the public service.
Local governments are invited to participate in virtual engagement sessions on May 31 or June 2 (morning and afternoon sessions available). To register, please contact UBCM staff, and indicate if you would like to attend the May 31 morning or afternoon session, or the June 2 morning or afternoon session.
As well, the team will be sending letters to all local governments, inviting written responses from councils and boards, as well as individual councillors, board members and staff members.